New maps from Casey Trees make it easy to find the prettiest autumn leaves in town. Image via Shutterstock.
The government may be shut down, but Mother Nature isn’t—meaning it’s a great time to observe the change from summer’s green leaves to autumn’s explosion of red, yellow, and orange. While most attention is paid to Skyline Drive and Shenandoah National Park (which is closed by the shutdown) there’s plenty of color right here in Washington.
For those in search of the best places to spot autumn leaves in the city, Casey Trees of Washington—a nonprofit founded in 2001 to look out for DC’s
tree canopy—has created two special maps. One is called Fall Color in DC. It not only breaks down the best streets for viewing autumn color but also offers a legend with the names of the trees: red maple, sugar maple, ginkgo biloba, pin oak, and American elm.
There are specially named routes, too. For example, Minnesota Avenue, Southeast, is the pin oak route, which runs 3.4 miles and promises 392 trees. In Cleveland Park, along Porter Street, Northwest, is a red maple route with 272 trees along 1.4 miles. Another red maple route is behind the Capitol in Northeast—5.4 miles with 1,004 trees. The other map is called Fall Color Density by Street. Washington’s share of autumn color may not be on par with, say, Vermont, but it’s impressive.
The peak colors are expected now into early November.
According to Casey’s website, the technical services and research team created the fall color map as its latest project. “Routes were selected to maximize fall color viewing,” it says. The routes are designed for driving or walking, and one-way streets have designated start and finish points.
Here’s How and Where to Find the Prettiest Autumn Colors in DC
Casey Trees has created two helpful online maps—for driving and walking.
The government may be shut down, but Mother Nature isn’t—meaning it’s a great time to observe the change from summer’s green leaves to autumn’s explosion of red, yellow, and orange. While most attention is paid to Skyline Drive and Shenandoah National Park (which is closed by the shutdown) there’s plenty of color right here in Washington.
For those in search of the best places to spot autumn leaves in the city, Casey Trees of Washington—a nonprofit founded in 2001 to look out for DC’s
tree canopy—has created two special maps. One is called Fall Color in DC. It not only breaks down the best streets for viewing autumn color but also offers a legend with the names of the trees: red maple, sugar maple, ginkgo biloba, pin oak, and American elm.
There are specially named routes, too. For example, Minnesota Avenue, Southeast, is the pin oak route, which runs 3.4 miles and promises 392 trees. In Cleveland Park, along Porter Street, Northwest, is a red maple route with 272 trees along 1.4 miles. Another red maple route is behind the Capitol in Northeast—5.4 miles with 1,004 trees. The other map is called Fall Color Density by Street. Washington’s share of autumn color may not be on par with, say, Vermont, but it’s impressive.
The peak colors are expected now into early November.
According to Casey’s website, the technical services and research team created the fall color map as its latest project. “Routes were selected to maximize fall color viewing,” it says. The routes are designed for driving or walking, and one-way streets have designated start and finish points.
Most Popular in News & Politics
What It Felt Like for a Virginia Marching Band to Win Metallica’s Contest
Meet the 2023 Washingtonians of the Year
What’s IN and OUT in DC Restaurant Trends for 2024
Introducing 8 of DC’s Most Stylish
Washingtonian Magazine
May 2024: Great Getaways
View IssueSubscribe
Follow Us on Social
Follow Us on Social
Related
13 Major Concerts and Music Festivals in the DC Area This Spring
Mary Timony on Her Emotional New Album, “Untame the Tiger”
The Beatles in DC: A New Exhibit in Maryland Looks Back on Early Beatlemania
Northern Virginia High School Wins Metallica’s Marching Band Competition
More from News & Politics
DC Area College Students Protest Gaza War at George Washington University Encampment
Here Are the Celebrities Coming to Town for the White House Correspondents Dinner
Insomnia Cookies, Picnic Blankets: Waiting in Line for Trump’s Supreme Court Case
PHOTOS: Demonstrators Gather Outside the Supreme Court as It Hears Arguments on Emergency Abortion Case
DC’s Coolest Jobs: A Jazz Detective. Orchid Whisperer. Armageddon Stopper.
Seven Miles of Georgia Avenue Will Have a Bus-Only Lane This Summer
What We’ll Miss (or Won’t Miss) About Foxtrot
Foxtrot Is Closing Its DC-Area Stores